Course Prefix Identification and Coding Rationale

Courses are identified by a prefix, which refers to the department offering the course, a four-digit number, a decimal point, and a two-digit number indicating the section number. Not all departmental prefixes represent fields in which a degree is offered; some represent minors and others only courses. This system is consistent across the university.

• 1000-level courses are intended for Freshmen (full-time, credit-earning students in their first year of coursework at AUC).
• 2000-level courses are intended primarily for Sophomore students.
• 3000-level courses are normally designed for Juniors.
• 4000-level courses are designated for Seniors, although superior students of Sophomore or Junior standing may be admitted with permission of the department offering the course.
• 5000 and 6000-level courses are designed and intended for graduate and post-graduate students.

However, when the 5000-level courses have 1 as the second digit, (i.e. 51XX) this indicates that the course may be taken by advanced (Senior and, in exceptional cases approved by the instructor, Junior level) undergraduate students as well. The same applies to 6000-level courses, which are generally intended for PhD level students. When 6000-level courses have 1 as the second digit (i.e. 61XX), this indicates that the course may be taken by advanced Masters-level students as well.

The second, third, and fourth digits are used by individual departments and programs to indicate the subarea, concentration or specialization within a degree offered, or proper sequence of courses within a particular subarea.

Courses ranging from 52XX-59XX are open to graduate students; however, a senior student who has a B average may take two graduate courses, not exceeding six credits, either for graduate credit or for completion of requirements for the bachelor’s degree. In this case the chair of the department concerned must notify the registrar’s office.

The departmental prefixes used in labeling courses are given below:

Note Concerning Course Schedules

Most course descriptions indicate the semester that each course is usually offered, but this information is subject to change and some courses are not taught every year. The registrar’s office publishes a detailed schedule of courses offered at the beginning of each semester which contains accurate information on which courses are offered, at what time and by whom they are taught. Please check the Registrar’s Schedule of Classes webpage.

For long-term planning, students should consult their advisers and/or individual departments for help designing their programs of study. Students coming from the United States, especially year-abroad students, should contact the university’s office in New York for current information about specific course offerings.